Polar bears plunge into Keuka Lake

If the ice accumulating near the shoreline of Keuka Lake was any indication, the water was cold – really cold.

John Zick

If the ice accumulating near the shoreline of Keuka Lake was any indication, the water was cold – really cold.

What made it obvious was the shivering, discolored people getting in and out of the water.

With water and air temperatures in the 30s, more than 100 people boldly bucked common sense Saturday and dove into the frigid waters of Keuka Lake as part of the annual “Polar Bear Plunge” at The Switzerland Inn.

“The initial shock is pretty cold,” said Bath resident Ron Simmonds, the first “polar bear” to jump in the water Saturday. At 72 years old, he was also one of the oldest. “I’ve been doing it for 15 or 16 years. This is one of the colder ones.”

Simmonds calmly talked about his jump just minutes after leaving the water. Others, though, weren’t quite as composed.

“I just jumped into a freezing (expletive) lake,” said one shivering woman, asking not to be identified. “How the (expletive) do you think I feel?”

Other jumpers shared the woman’s feelings, screaming as they exited the water and scurrying for the inn. Others were stoic, jumping in and getting out without so much as a peep.

While some polar veterans made the plunge on their own terms, others relied on liquid courage to grease the wheels.

“A shot of rum,” New Jersey resident Wolfgang Hofer joked before he jumped.

Hofer found out about the event through friends in Elmira. He said he’s done similar jumps in the Atlantic Ocean but wanted to try this event to see how it compared.

“I decided I had to do it once in a lake,” he said. “I’m the crazy one.”

Saturday’s plunge was the 19th year The Switzerland Inn hosted the event. Jumpers paid $10 to participate. Each got a T-shirt.

A DJ played music throughout the event, and food and drinks were plentiful.

Hundreds of spectators attended the event to cheer on (or make fun of) the jumpers.